RIGA, Sept 1 (LETA) - The government coalition at the weekly cooperation meeting on Monday agreed to nominate Karina Palkova, a lawyer an associate professor at Riga Stradins University (RSU), for the post of Ombudsman, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) said on X.

Palkova's nomination was proposed by the Union of Greens and Farmers, the party said in a statement to the media. Its chairman Armands Krauze praised Palkova's professional qualification and experience, noting that these qualities will enable her to perform the Ombudsman's duties, ensure respect for human rights in Latvia and strengthen the principles of good governance in public administration and and local governments.

Greens/Farmers informed coalition partners on the decision to nominate Palkova for the post of Ombudsman, and the coalition partners supported the proposal. MPs of the Greens/Farmers faction are scheduled to meet with Palkova at the faction's next meeting this Wednesday, September 3.

Palkova will also meet with the New Unity faction in the Saeima on Wednesday, MP Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica (New unity), told LETA.

The Progressives party also promised support for Palkova's nomination. Andris Suvajevs, chairman of the Progressives faction in the Seima, told LETA that Palkova has proved herself in the academic environment as the dean of the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences, as a doctor of law and a sworn lawyer.

"We are confident that Palkova's professionalism, energy and ability to understand the needs of society will ensure a strong and modern work of the Ombudsman institution for the benefit of the people of Latvia," Suvajevs said.

Palkova is a sworn lawyer specializing in medical law. She is also the dean and a researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences at RSU and works as a freelance adviser on doctors' and patients' rights to Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri.

She was previously head of the Public Council of Jurmala City Council. The Council aims to promote the development of the non-governmental sector and civic participation in the city.

According to the law, the Ombudsman is appointed by the Saeima upon the proposal of no fewer than ten deputies, and the term of office is five years.

As reported, a new candidate has to be nominated because the Saeima dismissed Latvia's long-standing Ombudsman Juris Jansons, who had decided to resign.

Following the dismissal of Juris Jansons as Ombudsman, the Ombudsman's Office has continued work under the leadership of Deputy Ombudsman Ineta Pilane.

The Ombudsman Law stipulates that Saeima releases the ombudsman from the office if he or she resigns of his or her own free will, notifying Saeima in writing thereof.

The law also states that the Ombudsman is approved in the office by the Saeima pursuant to the proposal of not less than ten members of the Saeima. A legislative proposal, which has been submitted to the Saeima, would also authorize the president of Latvia to nominate a candidate for Ombudsman. The Saeima has yet to vote on the proposal in three readings.

Jansons had concluded that he could not continue in his job and promised to submit his resignation letter.

Jansons' current term of office as the ombudsman would end in March 2026.